Fort Bragg: Two arrested in kidnapping, assault

Authorities arrested a Fort Bragg man and woman who allegedly kidnapped, beat and tormented two people for several hours last week, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded at 2:39 p.m. Oct. 26 to the Mendocino Coast District Hospital and spoke to Tonya Scheurich, 41, and Andrew Jacobsen, 62, both of Fort Bragg, who reported that two people had held them against their will and beaten them at one of the suspects' homes.

Scheurich and Jacobsen told deputies they had been outside at the home of James Lawson, 41, in the 22100 block of Rivers End Road, when he and/or Rachelle Sutherland, 38, also of Fort Bragg, allegedly attacked them with unknown weapons.

The two were reportedly taken inside the home, restrained and interrogated for several hours, according to the MCSO. The two were tormented, terrorized and/or threatened with death during the incident, the MCSO reported.

At one point, Scheurich and Jacobsen were freed from their restraints and were able to escape to a safe place and call police, according to the MCSO.

Both of the victims had visible injuries that appeared to have been caused by a blunt object, the MCSO reported, and deputies later recovered a weapon at the scene that they believe was used in the assault.

Deputies found and arrested Sutherland at 9 p.m. in the 29700 block of Highway 20. Lawson was found at 8:50 p.m. in the 21600 block of Bald Hill Road and arrested. Both were booked at the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon and making threats, and are each held under $100,000 bail.